Guest Speaker: Guest Speaker Jon Brinkmann—retired affiliate professor at New Mexico State University and a veteran of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS).
When: Friday, August 1, 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM MDT
Location: New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Join us on August 1 for an engaging dive into black holes. In this captivating Launch Pad Lecture, Dr. Brinkmann will discuss the evolution of our understanding of black holes—from Ole Rømer’s groundbreaking 1676 discovery about the speed of light to the latest breakthroughs in astrophysics and photography.
Dr. Brinkmann will share insights from his work at the SDSS as a scientific instruments engineer, manager, and systems administrator at Apache Point Observatory near Sunspot, NM. He played a vital role in coordinating the SDSS, which has mapped over a quarter of the sky since 2000, cataloged more than 930,000 galaxies, and transformed our understanding of galaxy evolution, quasars, and the structure of the Milky Way.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to delve into the science of black holes with a true pioneer of modern astronomy, Dr. Brinkmann!
The Launch Pad Lecture Series is held on the first Friday of each month. Museum staff, along with special guest speakers, discuss topics ranging from space history to its future. Free to the public. Coffee and donuts provided. For more information, visit our website at www.nmspacemuseum.org
